With Stars in Her Eyes

Read Time: 3 Minutes

I was feeling in the mood for something light-hearted and the all-knowing Audible algorithm suggested “With Stars in Her Eyes” by Andie Burke while I clicked through the “also-reads” based on others I had listened to. The blurb sold me on it so one credit later and it had me laughing almost from fairly early on.

Courtney Starling, known to her fans as Kestrel, plays electric cello for the Violet Trikes. After her chronic migraine flares up right when she’s on the cusp of breaking out and making it big, rumours start flying about and the record label starts getting worried. Taking a break from that life, she’s back in her hometown, working in a bookshop and trying to find her footing again.

Enter Thea Quinn, a piercing artist from the local tattoo studio next door, who only wanted to drop off a misdelivered package. The somewhat disastrous meet-cute is hilarious and mortifying for Courtney and had me laughing out loud. It starts with a bearded dragon and ends in a lengthy discussion on the correct plural of clitoris. It’s as awkward, funny, and completely charming at the same time while the main characters get flustered.

From there, Thea and Courtney orbit each other and draw ever closer to the realisation that they’re meant to be together. The story plays out over the course of about a year, letting the relationship breathe and find itself in time. Courtney and Thea start as friends, sharing romance novels, banter and accidental innuendo before things start to heat up.

There’s plenty of chemistry and a few scenes that definitely earn the “spicy” tag, but it’s not just about that. The story also looks at identity, ambition, and the things we sacrifice for comfort or success. The chemistry between Courtney and Thea builds at a believable pace, helped along by that sharp banter and a few genuinely warm, funny moments.

When things do turn physical, it feels like a natural step rather than a box the story had to tick. You’ve spent enough time with them as people that the attraction feels earned, and it adds to the emotional arc rather than derailing it.

I liked how Burke plays with romance tropes without falling into them. There are even a few little fourth-wall winks to the audience like them disliking the “miscommunication” cliché or not being in a romance novel, which was funny without breaking the flow. The tension between love and career feels real too, especially as Courtney wrestles with her old life as Kestrel and the pressure from her manipulative ex.

Both narrators do an excellent job. Natalie Naudus captures Courtney’s wry humour and vulnerability, while Chelsea Stephens gives Thea just the right mix of warmth and quiet confidence. The dual narration works perfectly, and the production is clean and well-paced.

All up, With Stars in Her Eyes is a warm, funny, and emotional listen, the kind character-driven rom-com that hits that sweet spot between humour and heart. No forced drama, no flat characters, just two people finding their rhythm again.

Easy to recommend, especially if you like your love stories with a bit of bite and a lot of charm. I’ll definitely be picking up more from Andie Burke after this one.

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